Bulimba's history in timber
Early timber
Brisbane City Council's heritage trail says the timber Bulimba Uniting Church went up in 1866 as the district's first church. Crouch's Cottage, from the late 1870s, shows how many early houses here would have looked.
Anzac cottages
The trail also describes timber Anzac cottages, mostly built on donated land. A suburb with timber this old rewards regular termite inspections.
On the river
The same trail places the Bulimba Ferry Terminal on Oxford Street and talks about the Bulimba reach of the Brisbane River. Any low spot that stays wet near the house is worth a look.
Renovating an old cottage?
Renovation is the moment to think about termites. CSIRO says renovations and garden changes can weaken a termite barrier, so a new deck, raised garden beds or an extension deserves a fresh look. Tell the termite inspector what changed, and when.
If a builder opens up a wall and finds damage or mud tubes, stop there and leave it as it is. Several control options depend on finding termites still active. Termite work in Queensland also takes a QBCC licence on top of a pest licence, so ask to see both.
Possum removal in Bulimba
A possum in the roof of an old cottage is protected in Queensland, and possum removal really means lawful catch and release: an operator licensed for it can catch it, and it must be let go within 25 metres. Queensland Government advice is that a replacement often arrives, so repair the gaps at the same time.
Before you say yes to a treatment
- What exactly did you find, and where?
- Which product is it, and what's its full name?
- What's the re-entry or drying time for this house?
- Will you need to come back, and what would that involve?
- What does any warranty cover, in writing?
If it were our cottage in Bulimba
We'd book the termite inspection before the builders start, not after, and we'd get the roof gaps looked at while the ladders are up. Tell us what you've seen and your postcode.
Want someone to look at it?
Tell us what you've seen and your postcode, and a local pest business that handles exactly that calls you to talk it through.
